Toxins Found At Westport Middle School
WESTPORT (CBS) - As young David Sullivan took some batting practice right behind the middle school he's supposed to attend as a fifth grader this fall, his dad wonders.
"Hopefully it'll be ready in time," says Mark Sullivan. "But we'll do what we have to do."
At the very same time, a dozen experts were touring the Westport Middle School, trying to determine if the place can be made safe, in a hurry.
"So, we still have a lot of questions and only five weeks until the beginning of school," laments Superintendent Dr. Carlos Colley.
The problem is airborne PCB's -- or polychlorinated biphenyls -- suspected cancer causers which were banished from building materials back in the 1980's.
But Westport Middle was built in the early 70's, and testing now shows PCB's leaching from the window caulking and ceiling tiles.
Eight of thirteen classrooms tested flunked federal Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for young children.
"I think, right now, the building is not useable," says town selectman Craig Dutra.
WBZ-TV's Ken MacLeod reports
But by cleaning up contaminated dust and installing a ventilation system, some believe it could reopen in September.
One such believer is Craig Dutra, whose fifth grade twins would go here.
"My opinion is that it's worth spending a million dollars if we can make it safe and keep as much of a normal school schedule as possible," says Dutra, referencing the estimated $600,000 to $1,000,000 cost of such a project.
The other short term options are more disruptive.
One is busing the 550 students to vacant schools in neighboring towns.
The other is double shifting Westport High -- with the older kids attending for six hours in the morning, and the middle schoolers going for six hours in the afternoon.
"Moving these kids to another location would be quite a feat in just a few weeks time," admits Superintendent Colley. "But it can be done. I would prefer not to, but I'm planning for it just in case."
Back out on the baseball field behind the school, Mark Sullivan seems pretty confident his town won't strike out on this.
"I'm sure a fire is lit under them now," Sullivan says. "They'll make it happen."
No matter which short term option Westport chooses, it won't dodge the longer term problem -- renovate a 40 year old building to rid it of PCB's, or simply build a new school.
Lexington faced this same problem a year ago, and has a new school under construction right now.
Superintendent Colley has invited parents to a town meeting next week, to throw all the options on the table.
